Chapter 66

The old Roman name was Sextilis, the sixth month from March, the month in which the primitive Romans, as well as Jews, began the year. The name was changed to August in honor of Augustus Cæsar, the first emperor of Rome, on account of his victories, and his entering on his first consulate in that month.

Au*gus"tan (&?;), a. [L. Augustanus, fr. Augustus. See August, n.] 1. Of or pertaining to Augustus Cæsar or to his times.

2. Of or pertaining to the town of Augsburg.

Augustan age of any national literature, the period of its highest state of purity and refinement; -- so called because the reign of Augustus Cæsar was the golden age of Roman literature. Thus the reign of Louis XIV. (b. 1638) has been called the Augustan age of French literature, and that of Queen Anne (b. 1664) the Augustan age of English literature. -- Augustan confession (Eccl. Hist.), or confession of Augsburg, drawn up at Augusta Vindelicorum, or Augsburg, by Luther and Melanchthon, in 1530, contains the principles of the Protestants, and their reasons for separating from the Roman Catholic church.

{ Au*gus"tine (&?;), Au`gus*tin"i*an (&?;), } n. (Eccl.) A member of one of the religious orders called after St. Augustine; an Austin friar.

Au`gus*tin"i*an, a. Of or pertaining to St. Augustine, bishop of Hippo in Northern Africa (b. 354 -- d. 430), or to his doctrines.

Augustinian canons, an order of monks once popular in England and Ireland; -- called also regular canons of St. Austin, and black canons. -- Augustinian hermits or Austin friars, an order of friars established in 1265 by Pope Alexander IV. It was introduced into the United States from Ireland in 1790. -- Augustinian nuns, an order of nuns following the rule of St. Augustine. -- Augustinian rule, a rule for religious communities based upon the 109th letter of St. Augustine, and adopted by the Augustinian orders.

Au`gus*tin"i*an, n. One of a class of divines, who, following St. Augustine, maintain that grace by its nature is effectual absolutely and creatively, not relatively and conditionally.

{ Au`gus*tin"i*an*ism (&?;), Au*gus"tin*ism }, n. The doctrines held by Augustine or by the Augustinians.

Au*gust"ly, adv. In an august manner.

Au*gust"ness, n. The quality of being august; dignity of mien; grandeur; magnificence.

Auk (&?;), n. [Prov. E. alk; akin to Dan. alke, Icel. & Sw. alka.] (Zoöl.) A name given to various species of arctic sea birds of the family Alcidæ. The great auk, now extinct, is Alca (or Plautus) impennis. The razor-billed auk is A. torda. See Puffin, Guillemot, and Murre.

Auk"ward (&?;), a. See Awkward. [Obs.]

Au*la"ri*an (&?;), a. [L. aula hall. Cf. LL. aularis of a court.] Relating to a hall.

Au*la"ri*an, n. At Oxford, England, a member of a hall, distinguished from a collegian. Chalmers.

Auld (&?;), a. [See Old.] Old; as, Auld Reekie (old smoky), i. e., Edinburgh. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

Auld` lang syne" (&?;). A Scottish phrase used in recalling recollections of times long since past. "The days of auld lang syne."

Au*let"ic (&?;), a. [L. auleticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; flute.] Of or pertaining to a pipe (flute) or piper. [R.] Ash.

Au"lic, a. [L. aulicus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; hall, court, royal court.] Pertaining to a royal court.

Ecclesiastical wealth and aulic dignities. Landor.

Aulic council (Hist.), a supreme court of the old German empire; properly the supreme court of the emperor. It ceased at the death of each emperor, and was renewed by his successor. It became extinct when the German empire was dissolved, in 1806. The term is now applied to a council of the war department of the Austrian empire, and the members of different provincial chanceries of that empire are called aulic councilors. P. Cyc.

Au"lic, n. The ceremony observed in conferring the degree of doctor of divinity in some European universities. It begins by a harangue of the chancellor addressed to the young doctor, who then receives the cap, and presides at the disputation (also called the aulic).

Auln (&?;), n. An ell. [Obs.] See Aune.

{ Aul"nage (&?;), Aul"na*ger (&?;), } n. See Alnage and Alnager.

Aum (&?;), n. Same as Aam.

Au*mail" (&?;), v. t. [OE. for amel, enamel.] To figure or variegate. [Obs.] Spenser.

Aum"bry (&?;), n. Same as Ambry.

Au"me*ry (&?;), n. A form of Ambry, a closet; but confused with Almonry, as if a place for alms.

Aun"cel (&?;), n. A rude balance for weighing, and a kind of weight, formerly used in England. Halliwell.

Aun"cet*ry (&?;), n. Ancestry. [Obs.] Chaucer.

||Aune (&?;), n. [F. See Alnage.] A French cloth measure, of different parts of the country (at Paris, 0.95 of an English ell); -- now superseded by the meter.

Aunt (änt), n. [OF. ante, F. tante, L. amita father's sister. Cf. Amma.] 1. The sister of one's father or mother; -- correlative to nephew or niece. Also applied to an uncle's wife.

Aunt is sometimes applied as a title or term of endearment to a kind elderly woman not thus related.

2. An old woman; and old gossip. [Obs.] Shak.

3. A bawd, or a prostitute. [Obs.] Shak.

Aunt Sally, a puppet head placed on a pole and having a pipe in its mouth; also a game, which consists in trying to hit the pipe by throwing short bludgeons at it.

Aun"ter (&?;), n. Adventure; hap. [Obs.]

In aunters, perchance.

{ Aun"ter, Aun"tre } (&?;), v. t. [See Adventure.] To venture; to dare. [Obs.] Chaucer.

{ Aunt"ie, Aunt"y } (&?;), n. A familiar name for an aunt. In the southern United States a familiar term applied to aged negro women.

Aun"trous (&?;), a. Adventurous. [Obs.] Chaucer.

||Au"ra (&?;), n.; pl. Auræ (&?;). [L. aura air, akin to Gr. &?;.] 1. Any subtile, invisible emanation, effluvium, or exhalation from a substance, as the aroma of flowers, the odor of the blood, a supposed fertilizing emanation from the pollen of flowers, etc.

2. (Med.) The peculiar sensation, as of a light vapor, or cold air, rising from the trunk or limbs towards the head, a premonitory symptom of epilepsy or hysterics.

Electric aura, a supposed electric fluid, emanating from an electrified body, and forming a mass surrounding it, called the electric atmosphere. See Atmosphere, 2.

Au"ral (&?;), a. [L. aura air.] Of or pertaining to the air, or to an aura.

Au"ral, a. [L. auris ear.] Of or pertaining to the ear; as, aural medicine and surgery.

Au*ran`ti*a"ceous (&?;), a. Pertaining to, or resembling, the Aurantiaceæ, an order of plants (formerly considered natural), of which the orange is the type.

Au"rate (&?;), n. [L. auratus, p. p. of aurare to gild, fr. aurum gold: cf. F. aurate.] (Chem.) A combination of auric acid with a base; as, aurate or potassium.

Au"ra*ted (&?;), a. [See Aurate.] 1. Resembling or containing gold; gold-colored; gilded.

2. (Chem.) Combined with auric acid.

Au"ra*ted (&?;), a. Having ears. See Aurited.

Au"re*ate (&?;), a. [L. aureatus, fr. aureus golden, fr. aurum gold.] Golden; gilded. Skelton.

||Au*re"li*a (?; 106), n. [NL., fr. L. aurum gold: cf. F. aurélie. Cf. Chrysalis.] (Zoöl.) (a) The chrysalis, or pupa of an insect, esp. when reflecting a brilliant golden color, as that of some of the butterflies. (b) A genus of jellyfishes. See Discophora.

Au*re"li*an (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to the aurelia.

Au*re"li*an, n. An amateur collector and breeder of insects, esp. of butterflies and moths; a lepidopterist.

{ ||Au*re"o*la (&?;), Au"re*ole (&?;), } n. [F. auréole, fr. L. aureola, (fem adj.) of gold (sc. corona crown), dim. of aureus. See Aureate, Oriole.] 1. (R. C. Theol.) A celestial crown or accidental glory added to the bliss of heaven, as a reward to those (as virgins, martyrs, preachers, etc.) who have overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.

2. The circle of rays, or halo of light, with which painters surround the figure and represent the glory of Christ, saints, and others held in special reverence.

Limited to the head, it is strictly termed a nimbus; when it envelops the whole body, an aureola. Fairholt.

3. A halo, actual or figurative.

The glorious aureole of light seen around the sun during total eclipses. Proctor.

The aureole of young womanhood. O. W. Holmes.

4. (Anat.) See Areola, 2.

Au"ric (&?;), a. [L. aurum gold.] 1. Of or pertaining to gold.

2. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, gold; -- said of those compounds of gold in which this element has its higher valence; as, auric oxide; auric chloride.

Au`ri*chal"ce*ous (&?;), a. [L. aurichalcum, for orichalcum brass.] (Zoöl.) Brass-colored.

Au`ri*chal"cite (&?;), n. [See Aurichalceous.] (Min.) A hydrous carbonate of copper and zinc, found in pale green or blue crystalline aggregations. It yields a kind of brass on reduction.

Au"ri*cle (&?;), n. [L. auricula, dim. of auris ear. See Ear.] 1. (Anat.) (a) The external ear, or that part of the ear which is prominent from the head. (b) The chamber, or one of the two chambers, of the heart, by which the blood is received and transmitted to the ventricle or ventricles; -- so called from its resemblance to the auricle or external ear of some quadrupeds. See Heart.

2. (Zoöl.) An angular or ear-shaped lobe.

3. An instrument applied to the ears to give aid in hearing; a kind of ear trumpet. Mansfield.

Au"ri*cled (&?;), a. Having ear-shaped appendages or lobes; auriculate; as, auricled leaves.

||Au*ric"u*la (&?;), n.; pl. L. Auriculæ (&?;), E. Auriculas (&?;). [L. auricula. See Auricle.] 1. (Bot.) (a) A species of Primula, or primrose, called also, from the shape of its leaves, bear's-ear. (b) (b) A species of Hirneola (H. auricula), a membranaceous fungus, called also auricula Judæ, or Jew's-ear. P. Cyc.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) A genus of air-breathing mollusks mostly found near the sea, where the water is brackish (b) One of the five arched processes of the shell around the jaws of a sea urchin.

<! p. 102 !>

Au*ric"u*lar (*rk"*lr), a. [LL. auricularis: cf. F. auriculaire. See Auricle.] 1. Of or pertaining to the ear, or to the sense of hearing; as, auricular nerves.

2. Told in the ear, i. e., told privately; as, auricular confession to the priest.

This next chapter is a penitent confession of the king, and the strangest . . . that ever was auricular. Milton.

3. Recognized by the ear; known by the sense of hearing; as, auricular evidence. "Auricular assurance." Shak.

4. Received by the ear; known by report. "Auricular traditions." Bacon.

5. (Anat.) Pertaining to the auricles of the heart.

Auricular finger, the little finger; so called because it can be readily introduced into the ear passage.

||Au*ric`u*la"ri*a (&?;), n. pl. [Neut. pl., fr. LL. auricularis.] (Zoöl.) A kind of holothurian larva, with soft, blunt appendages. See Illustration in Appendix.

Au*ric"u*lar*ly, adv. In an auricular manner.

Au*ric"u*lars (&?;), n. pl. (Zoöl.) A circle of feathers surrounding the opening of the ear of birds.

{ Au*ric"u*late (&?;), Au*ric"u*la`ted (&?;), } a. [See Auricle.] (Biol.) Having ears or appendages like ears; eared. Esp.: (a) (Bot.) Having lobes or appendages like the ear; shaped like the ear; auricled. (b) (Zoöl.) Having an angular projection on one or both sides, as in certain bivalve shells, the foot of some gastropods, etc.

Auriculate leaf, one having small appended leaves or lobes on each side of its petiole or base.

Au*rif"er*ous (&?;), a. [L. aurifer; aurum gold + ferre to bear: cf. F. aurifère.] Gold-bearing; containing or producing gold.

Whence many a bursting stream auriferous plays. Thomson.

Auriferous pyrites, iron pyrites (iron disulphide), containing some gold disseminated through it.

Au"ri*flamme (&?;), n. See Oriflamme.

Au"ri*form (&?;), a. [L. auris ear + -form.] Having the form of the human ear; ear-shaped.

||Au*ri"ga (&?;), n. [L., charioteer.] (Anat.) The Charioteer, or Wagoner, a constellation in the northern hemisphere, situated between Perseus and Gemini. It contains the bright star Capella.

Au*ri"gal (&?;), a. [L. aurigalis.] Of or pertaining to a chariot. [R.]

Au`ri*ga"tion (&?;), n. [L. aurigatio, fr. aurigare to be a charioteer, fr. auriga.] The act of driving a chariot or a carriage. [R.] De Quincey.

Au*rig"ra*phy (&?;), n. [L. aurum gold + -graphy.] The art of writing with or in gold.

Au"rin ("rn), n. [L. aurum gold.] (Chem.) A red coloring matter derived from phenol; -- called also, in commerce, yellow corallin.

Au`ri*phryg"i*ate (`r*fr"j*t), a. [LL. auriphrigiatus; L. aurum gold + LL. phrygiare to adorn with Phrygian needlework, or with embroidery; perhaps corrupted from some other word. Cf. Orfrays.] Embroidered or decorated with gold. [R.] Southey.

Au`ri*pig"ment (`r*pg"ment), n. See Orpiment. [Obs.]

Au"ri*scalp ("r*sklp), n. [L. auris ear + scalpere to scrape.] An earpick.

Au"ri*scope (-skp), n. [L. auris + -scope.] (Med.) An instrument for examining the condition of the ear.

Au*ris"co*py (*rs"k*p), n. Examination of the ear by the aid of the auriscope.

Au"rist ("rst), n. [L. auris ear.] One skilled in treating and curing disorders of the ear.

Au"ri*ted (&?;), a. [L. auritus, fr. auris ear.] (Zoöl.) Having lobes like the ear; auriculate.

Au*riv"o*rous (&?;), a. [L. aurum gold + vorare to devour.] Gold-devouring. [R.] H. Walpole.

Au`ro*ceph"a*lous (&?;), a. [Aurum + cephalous.] (Zoöl.) Having a gold-colored head.

Au`ro*chlo"ride (&?;), n. [Aurum + chloride.] (Chem.) The trichloride of gold combination with the chloride of another metal, forming a double chloride; -- called also chloraurate.

Au"rochs ("rks), n. [G. auerochs, OHG. rohso; r (cf. AS. r) + ohso ox, G. ochs. Cf. Owre, Ox.] (Zoöl.) The European bison (Bison bonasus, or Europæus), once widely distributed, but now nearly extinct, except where protected in the Lithuanian forests, and perhaps in the Caucasus. It is distinct from the Urus of Cæsar, with which it has often been confused.

Au`ro*cy"a*nide (&?;), n. [Aurum + cyanide.] (Chem.) A double cyanide of gold and some other metal or radical; -- called also cyanaurate.

Au*ro"ra (&?;), n.; pl. E. Auroras (&?;), L. (rarely used) Auroræ (&?;). [L. aurora, for ausosa, akin to Gr. &?;, &?;, dawn, Skr. ushas, and E. east.] 1. The rising light of the morning; the dawn of day; the redness of the sky just before the sun rises.

2. The rise, dawn, or beginning. Hawthorne.

3. (Class. Myth.) The Roman personification of the dawn of day; the goddess of the morning. The poets represented her a rising out of the ocean, in a chariot, with rosy fingers dropping gentle dew.

4. (Bot.) A species of crowfoot. Johnson.

5. The aurora borealis or aurora australis (northern or southern lights).

Aurora borealis (&?;), i. e., northern daybreak; popularly called northern lights. A luminous meteoric phenomenon, visible only at night, and supposed to be of electrical origin. This species of light usually appears in streams, ascending toward the zenith from a dusky line or bank, a few degrees above the northern horizon; when reaching south beyond the zenith, it forms what is called the corona, about a spot in the heavens toward which the dipping needle points. Occasionally the aurora appears as an arch of light across the heavens from east to west. Sometimes it assumes a wavy appearance, and the streams of light are then called merry dancers. They assume a variety of colors, from a pale red or yellow to a deep red or blood color. The Aurora australis (&?;) is a corresponding phenomenon in the southern hemisphere, the streams of light ascending in the same manner from near the southern horizon.

Au*ro"ral (&?;), a. Belonging to, or resembling, the aurora (the dawn or the northern lights); rosy.

Her cheeks suffused with an auroral blush. Longfellow.

Au"rous (&?;), a. 1. Containing gold.

2. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, gold; -- said of those compounds of gold in which this element has its lower valence; as, aurous oxide.

||Au"rum (&?;), n. [L.] Gold.

Aurum fulminans (&?;). See Fulminate. -- Aurum mosaicum (&?;). See Mosaic.

Aus*cult" (&?;), v. i. & t. To auscultate.

Aus"cul*tate (&?;), v. i. & t. To practice auscultation; to examine by auscultation.

Aus`cul*ta"tion (&?;), n. [L. ausculcatio, fr. auscultare to listen, fr. a dim. of auris, orig. ausis, ear. See Auricle, and cf. Scout, n.] 1. The act of listening or hearkening to. Hickes.

2. (Med.) An examination by listening either directly with the ear (immediate auscultation) applied to parts of the body, as the abdomen; or with the stethoscope (mediate auscultation), in order to distinguish sounds recognized as a sign of health or of disease.

Aus"cul*ta`tor (&?;), n. One who practices auscultation.

Aus*cul"ta*to*ry (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to auscultation. Dunglison.

Au*so"ni*an (&?;), a. [L. Ausonia, poetic name for Italy.] Italian. Milton.

Aus"pi*cate (&?;), a. [L. auspicatus, p. p. of auspicari to take auspices, fr. auspex a bird seer, an augur, a contr. of avispex; avis bird + specere, spicere, to view. See Aviary, Spy.] Auspicious. [Obs.] Holland.

Aus"pi*cate (&?;), v. t. 1. To foreshow; to foretoken. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

2. To give a favorable turn to in commencing; to inaugurate; -- a sense derived from the Roman practice of taking the auspicium, or inspection of birds, before undertaking any important business.

They auspicate all their proceedings. Burke.

Aus"pice (&?;), n.; pl. Auspices (&?;). [L. auspicium, fr. auspex: cf. F. auspice. See Auspicate, a.] 1. A divining or taking of omens by observing birds; an omen as to an undertaking, drawn from birds; an augury; an omen or sign in general; an indication as to the future.

2. Protection; patronage and care; guidance.

Which by his auspice they will nobler make. Dryden.

In this sense the word is generally plural, auspices; as, under the auspices of the king.

Aus*pi"cial (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to auspices; auspicious. [R.]

Aus*pi"cious (&?;), a. [See Auspice.] 1. Having omens or tokens of a favorable issue; giving promise of success, prosperity, or happiness; predicting good; as, an auspicious beginning.

Auspicious union of order and freedom. Macaulay.

2. Prosperous; fortunate; as, auspicious years. "Auspicious chief." Dryden.

3. Favoring; favorable; propitious; -- applied to persons or things. "Thy auspicious mistress." Shak. "Auspicious gales." Pope.

Syn. -- See Propitious.

-- Aus*pi"cious*ly, adv. -- Aus*pi"cious*ness, n.

||Aus"ter (&?;), n. [L. auster a dry, hot, south wind; the south.] The south wind. Pope.

Aus*tere" (&?;), [F. austère, L. austerus, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to parch, dry. Cf. Sear.] 1. Sour and astringent; rough to the state; having acerbity; as, an austere crab apple; austere wine.

2. Severe in modes of judging, or living, or acting; rigid; rigorous; stern; as, an austere man, look, life.

From whom the austere Etrurian virtue rose. Dryden.

3. Unadorned; unembellished; severely simple.

Syn. -- Harsh; sour; rough; rigid; stern; severe; rigorous; strict.

Aus*tere"ly, adv. Severely; rigidly; sternly.

A doctrine austerely logical. Macaulay.

Aus*tere"ness, n. 1. Harshness or astringent sourness to the taste; acerbity. Johnson.

2. Severity; strictness; austerity. Shak.

Aus*ter"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Austerities (&?;). [F. austérité, L. austerias, fr. austerus. See Austere.] 1. Sourness and harshness to the taste. [Obs.] Horsley.

2. Severity of manners or life; extreme rigor or strictness; harsh discipline.

The austerity of John the Baptist. Milton.

3. Plainness; freedom from adornment; severe simplicity.

Partly owing to the studied austerity of her dress, and partly to the lack of demonstration in her manners. Hawthorne.

Aus"tin (&?;), a. Augustinian; as, Austin friars.

Aus"tral (&?;), a. [L. australis, fr. auster: cf. F. austral.] Southern; lying or being in the south; as, austral land; austral ocean.

Austral signs (Astron.), the last six signs of the zodiac, or those south of the equator.

Aus`tral*a"sian (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Australasia; as, Australasian regions. -- n. A native or an inhabitant of Australasia.

Aus*tra"li*an (&?;), a. [From L. Terra Australis southern land.] Of or pertaining to Australia. -- n. A native or an inhabitant of Australia.

Aus"tral*ize (&?;), v. i. [See Austral.] To tend toward the south pole, as a magnet. [Obs.]

They [magnets] do septentrionate at one extreme, and australize at another. Sir T. Browne.

Aus"tri*an (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Austria, or to its inhabitants. -- n. A native or an inhabitant of Austria.

Aus"trine (&?;), n. [L. austrinus, from auster south.] Southern; southerly; austral. [Obs.] Bailey.

Aus"tro-Hun*ga"ri*an (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to the monarchy composed of Austria and Hungary.

Aus"tro*man`cy (&?;), n. [L. auster south wind + -mancy.] Soothsaying, or prediction of events, from observation of the winds.

Au"tar*chy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; independence; a'yto`s self + 'arkei^n to be sufficient.] Self- sufficiency. [Obs.] Milton.

Au*then"tic (&?;), a. [OE. autentik, OF. autentique, F. authentique, L. authenticus coming from the real author, of original or firsthand authority, from Gr. &?;, fr. &?; suicide, a perpetrator or real author of any act, an absolute master; a'yto`s self + a form "enths (not found), akin to L. sons and perh. orig. from the p. pr. of e'i^nai to be, root as, and meaning the one it really is. See Am, Sin, n., and cf. Effendi.] 1. Having a genuine original or authority, in opposition to that which is false, fictitious, counterfeit, or apocryphal; being what it purports to be; genuine; not of doubtful origin; real; as, an authentic paper or register.

To be avenged On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire. Milton.

2. Authoritative. [Obs.] Milton.

3. Of approved authority; true; trustworthy; credible; as, an authentic writer; an authentic portrait; authentic information.

4. (Law) Vested with all due formalities, and legally attested.

5. (Mus.) Having as immediate relation to the tonic, in distinction from plagal, which has a correspondent relation to the dominant in the octave below the tonic.

Syn. -- Authentic, Genuine. These words, as here compared, have reference to historical documents. We call a document genuine when it can be traced back ultimately to the author or authors from whom it professes to emanate. Hence, the word has the meaning, "not changed from the original, uncorrupted, unadulterated:" as, a genuine text. We call a document authentic when, on the ground of its being thus traced back, it may be relied on as true and authoritative (from the primary sense of "having an author, vouched for"); hence its extended signification, in general literature, of trustworthy, as resting on unquestionable authority or evidence; as, an authentic history; an authentic report of facts.

A genuine book is that which was written by the person whose name it bears, as the author of it. An authentic book is that which relates matters of fact as they really happened. A book may be genuine without being, authentic, and a book may be authentic without being genuine. Bp. Watson.

It may be said, however, that some writers use authentic (as, an authentic document) in the sense of "produced by its professed author, not counterfeit."

Au*then"tic, n. An original (book or document). [Obs.] "Authentics and transcripts." Fuller.

Au*then"tic*al (&?;), a. Authentic. [Archaic]

Au*then"tic*al*ly, adv. In an authentic manner; with the requisite or genuine authority.

Au*then*tic*al*ness, n. The quality of being authentic; authenticity. [R.] Barrow.

Au*then"ti*cate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Authenticated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Authenticating (&?;).] [Cf. LL. authenticare.] 1. To render authentic; to give authority to, by the proof, attestation, or formalities required by law, or sufficient to entitle to credit.

The king serves only as a notary to authenticate the choice of judges. Burke.

2. To prove authentic; to determine as real and true; as, to authenticate a portrait. Walpole.